| Better Man |
| He was quiet. but so was she. Their time together had never required words. They shared thoughts. It�s how in synch they were. She smiled at the saying that had come to remind millions of people of the group that the couple�s best friend was in. The three of them had been inseparable growing up. She was an only child, and they both had other siblings, but all three families grew accustomed to their special bond. It was on his first trip abroad that they were forced to see how adulthood would change them. He was thousands of miles away, and they were in love. The families were thrilled: it was bound to have happened to one of them. He was delighted, defending them to naysayers that came along. If he ever was unhappy with the arrangement, he never let on. Not even to himself. Time went on. He grew more popular. They were engaged. She talked on the phone with him often. She missed him, she explained to both of them. Childhood was long gone, yet she clung to �her boys� with all she had, the only constant in her life. Weeks later, he ended it. Everyone else thought it was out of the blue, but he denied it. He looked her in the face, accused her of loving someone else, then walked away from both of them. Death was preferable to her heartache. She had never thought of him like that, never wished she were in love with him instead. And now that he was all she had, she wouldn�t allow herself to be. He had said the words, demonstrated it in every way he knew how, but he had to respect that she couldn�t love him back. She had never even dreamed of being unfaithful. For her to love him now made her feel like all the names that had been hurled at her then. When he had walked away, he had ruined her for both of them. The phone call was unexpected. She didn�t understand why, but he wanted her there. So she rushed to his side. They were both in the room together, speaking in hushed tones that ceased as soon as she walked in. One motioned her forward while the other made his way out, whispering that he�d wait outside for her. She nodded dumbly. He was lying there dying. What could he possibly want from her? He took her hand and squeezed as tight as he could. �I need you to do something for me. Promise,� he whispered. Just by looking, she could tell he would only last minutes longer. �Anything,� she breathed. �Kiss me once like you used to.� With tears in her eyes, she leaned forward and obliged. Feeling the wetness dripping onto his own cheeks, he gently broke away from her. �You belong with him,� he murmured against her hair. �I think I�ve always known that. I just never wanted to admit it. I felt like he always had everything: music, money, fame. I didn�t want him to have you, too.� Her tears increased and he reached up to wipe them away. �You always used to say �Don�t go to sleep mad, it will give you bad dreams.� Remember?� She nodded. �I�m righting my wrongs, hoping that when I close my eyes, I can finally sleep in peace. I stole your heart once. Now I�m hoping you don�t mind if I give it to someone who will take better care of it than I did. He�ll love you enough for both of us.� Leaning down, she kissed him once more. It was goodbye and they both knew it. When she straightened, they both smiled, but he knew he had to be the strong one still. �I�ll see ya around, kid.� Their customary departing phrase. She walked across the room to the door before barely breathing the awaited response. �Not if I see you first.� He met her like he had promised. His look was questioning. Suddenly, she felt free, and she knew that their childhood friend was gone. Instead of crying, she smiled up at him and uttered words she had been dying to say. �I love you, too.� Misfits ~Home~ ~Plot Mistress~ |